At least 9.5 million previously uninsured people have gotten health insurance since Obamacare started, surveys and reports show.

President Obama's healthcare law, despite a rocky rollout and determined opposition from critics, already has spurred the largest expansion in health coverage in America in half a century, national surveys and enrollment data show.

As the law's initial enrollment period closes, at least 9.5 million previously uninsured people have gained coverage. Some have done so through marketplaces created by the law, some through other private insurance and others through Medicaid, which has expanded under the law in about half the states.

The tally draws from a review of state and federal enrollment reports, surveys and interviews with insurance executives and government officials nationwide.

The Affordable Care Act still faces major challenges, particularly the risk of premium hikes next year that could drive away newly insured customers. But the increased coverage so far amounts to substantial progress toward one of the law's principal goals and is the most significant expansion since the creation of Medicare and Medicaid in 1965.

The millions of newly insured also create a politically important constituency that may complicate any future Republican repeal efforts.

Precise figures on national health coverage will not be available for months. But available data indicate:

• At least 6 million people have signed up for health coverage on the new marketplaces, about one-third of whom were previously uninsured.

• A February survey by consulting firm McKinsey & Co. found 27% of new enrollees were previously uninsured, but newer survey data from the nonprofit Rand Corp. and reports from marketplace officials in several states suggest that share increased in March.

• At least 4.5 million previously uninsured adults have signed up for state Medicaid programs, according to Rand's unpublished survey data, which were shared with The Times. That tracks with estimates from Avalere Health, a consulting firm that is closely following the law's implementation.

• An additional 3 million young adults have gained coverage in recent years through a provision of the law that enables dependent children to remain on their parents' health plans until they turn 26, according to national health insurance surveys from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

• About 9 million people have bought health plans directly from insurers, instead of using the marketplaces, Rand found. The vast majority of these people were previously insured.

• Fewer than a million people who had health plans in 2013 are now uninsured because their plans were canceled for not meeting new standards set by the law, the Rand survey indicates.

Republican critics of the law have suggested that the cancellations last fall have led to a net reduction in coverage.

That is not supported by survey data or insurance companies, many of which report they have retained the vast majority of their 2013 customers by renewing old policies, which is permitted in about half the states, or by moving customers to new plans.

"We are talking about a very small fraction of the country" who lost coverage, said Katherine Carman, a Rand economist who is overseeing the survey.

Rand has been polling 3,300 Americans monthly about their insurance choices since last fall. Researchers found that the share of adults ages 18 to 64 without health insurance has declined from 20.9% last fall to 16.6% as of March 22.

The decrease parallels a similar drop recorded by Gallup, which found in its national polling that the uninsured rate among adults had declined from 18% in the final quarter of last year to 15.9% through the first two months of 2014. Gallup's overall uninsured rate is lower than Rand's because it includes seniors on Medicare.

Gallup Editor in Chief Frank Newport said that March polling, which has not been released yet, indicates the uninsured rate has declined further.

"While it is important to be cautious, the logical conclusion is that the law is having an effect," he said.
Although estimates vary, about 45 million to 48 million people are believed to have been uninsured before the marketplaces opened last year.

The survey data are bolstered by the experiences of insurance companies and state governments, which are tracking enrollment in public and private coverage.

"We are on target to exceed what was estimated," Lisa Sbrana, counsel for New York's insurance marketplace, said on a recent call organized by Families USA, a Washington-based advocacy group that supports the law. About 70% of New Yorkers signing up for coverage through the marketplace or Medicaid were previously uninsured, Sbrana said.

In Kentucky, about 75% of the state residents signing up on that state's marketplace or for Medicaid had no insurance, a state study indicates. As of Friday, more than 280,000 new people had enrolled in Medicaid in Kentucky, or nearly 91% of the residents officials estimated would become eligible for the program this year.

"We expect a huge net gain" in coverage, said Bill Nold, deputy executive of the state's marketplace.
In Nevada, state officials this month reported that Medicaid enrollments are on pace to hit 500,000 by this summer, a total that was not expected until 2015.

Even states such as Tennessee that are not expanding their Medicaid programs are reporting a flood of unexpected enrollments from previously eligible people who had not signed up before.
Insurers also are reporting gains across the country.

In California, Health Net and Blue Shield of California, two of the state's largest insurers, are on track to substantially increase their number of customers, according to company officials.

Florida Blue, that state's dominant insurer, also now expects to gain customers after sign-ups were initially slowed by problems with the federal HealthCare.gov site last fall.

Around Philadelphia, Independence Blue Cross has more than doubled its customers since last year. The company's New Jersey subsidiary, AmeriHealth New Jersey, has seen a nearly sevenfold increase.

Some insurers are finding that most of the new customers are coming through direct sales to individuals, not the law's new marketplaces. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota, for example, says more than 90% of its sales have not been on the state marketplace. Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield, the dominant insurer in Iowa and South Dakota, is seeing growth, even though it elected to stay off the marketplaces this year.

Regardless of whether consumers buy through the marketplaces or directly from insurance companies, they form part of the same risk pool, so both groups are crucial to the law's sustainability.

Long-term stability could be undermined if newly insured people do not pay their bills or if they drop coverage in coming months because they are unhappy about the high deductibles or narrow doctor and hospital networks some plans offer.

Some people have had to pay higher premiums to replace old plans that did not comply with the law's consumer standards.

More ominously, some insurance industry officials are warning they may raise rates substantially next year. Major rate hikes could push out healthy consumers, undermining the law's marketplaces and recharging political opposition.

"The real question is, have they built a system that is sustainable?" said Caroline Pearson, senior vice president at Avalere Health. "Premiums will be the single most important thing that will determine that."

But the solid enrollment in the first year has built a foundation that for now appears robust enough to support more growth next year.

In several states, including Rhode Island, Connecticut, Kentucky, Iowa and South Dakota, more insurers are looking to join state marketplaces when second-year enrollment begins this fall, according to marketplace and insurance industry officials.

And after initial resistance, a growing number of states with GOP governors or legislatures are looking to expand coverage further.

New Hampshire's Legislature just voted to expand its Medicaid program. Utah, Indiana and Pennsylvania are looking for ways to do the same.

Your Opinions and Comments

Oh my gosh, I was going to remark how niggardly
that your comments are. Do you have little rainbow
ribbons on your PC police uniform ? Please don't
anger me, thus causing undue stress on an old man,
by calling me a 'Stinkburger" ... More ›

Oh my gosh, I was going to remark how niggardly
that your comments are. Do you have little rainbow
ribbons on your PC police uniform ? Please don't
anger me, thus causing undue stress on an old man,
by calling me a 'Stinkburger" :-) Lordy, Lordy,
it's so much fun.

Ken Mills, It's apparent that persons living in
Round Rock, maybe by the process of osmosis, have
absorbed some of that Austin liberalism You
know, the use of the racist labels and all that.
I cannot think of a more disrespectful ... More ›

Ken Mills, It's apparent that persons living in
Round Rock, maybe by the process of osmosis, have
absorbed some of that Austin liberalism You
know, the use of the racist labels and all that.
I cannot think of a more disrespectful term
of one's own mother than the one to which you're
obviously addicted. When you throw that term
towards another, you are disrespecting all mothers.
Why are you so hung up on incest ? Seek help.

Yep....The ACA has been a boon for impotent
horny old codgers and loose young women.
ED drugs for elderly and birth control for
the young. Who knows, this may enable the
EPA to upgrade the status of the Horny Toad. :-)

Pritts....And what image of me were you trying
to convey by your remark about the locked box ?
Let's see, Bob makes a snide remark and receives
in kind back, then little Bobby feels like
someone is picking on him......poor ... More ›

Pritts....And what image of me were you trying
to convey by your remark about the locked box ?
Let's see, Bob makes a snide remark and receives
in kind back, then little Bobby feels like
someone is picking on him......poor pitiful
creature.

Grouch,
You would have lost that bet! I only funded maybe the first 3 or 4 years of it. What was the point you were trying to make, other than (in your mind) hopefully making me look foolish. You never give up, do you?

Bob, I rather watch a grub morph into a June Bug
than waste time with the likes of you. It would
be a complete waste of effort to email you the
Treasury site address because you would just
discount it as being untrue. I ... More ›

Bob, I rather watch a grub morph into a June Bug
than waste time with the likes of you. It would
be a complete waste of effort to email you the
Treasury site address because you would just
discount it as being untrue. I hope you do not
avail yourself of the self imposed tunnel vision
while driving. Lord, that cannot be true because
it clashes with my preconceived ideas. I do
want to congratulate you as being the only one
in the parade staying instep. March on.

Bob.....pathetic try. When you are cornered,
you resort to that old liberal trick of
asking a question about the validity of an
action but never, never, offer a shred of proof
or fact to back up your falsehood. You are
sinking ... More ›

Bob.....pathetic try. When you are cornered,
you resort to that old liberal trick of
asking a question about the validity of an
action but never, never, offer a shred of proof
or fact to back up your falsehood. You are
sinking lower and lower in an attempt to save
face. Who knows, maybe you'll sink low enough to
look that snake lying in the grass in the eye.
I think I once read some bible verse about
falsehoods but I'll leave that to the self
declared pious. Oh the injustice of it all,
a cherub asking for facts. :-)

Grouch,
Are you really naive enough to think the $8.0M dollars went against the national debt? It went into this year's general fund (with good intentions). But you know politicians. At least of them will discover that ... More ›

Grouch,
Are you really naive enough to think the $8.0M dollars went against the national debt? It went into this year's general fund (with good intentions). But you know politicians. At least of them will discover that the money needed to satisfy one of his or her 'pork' projects has been found, it will quickly be transferred to the discretionary fund and be spent. Meaning no reduction in this year's accumulating defict which will end up transferred at year's end to the national debt, increasing the debt by another $8.0M.

Bob Pritts....
1. Billionaire refuses 2000.00 monthly SS
checks. This result in the treasury not spending
$24000.00 annually. Since the SS checks are
electronically credited, postage doesn't really
play a part as I indicated. ... More ›

Bob Pritts....
1. Billionaire refuses 2000.00 monthly SS
checks. This result in the treasury not spending
$24000.00 annually. Since the SS checks are
electronically credited, postage doesn't really
play a part as I indicated. This, in theory, reduces
the deficit and avoids a $24,000.00 addition to the
increasing debt.
2. A group of citizens send $8.0 million to
the treasury dept. specifically earmarked toward debt
reduction. This, in theory, reduces the rising
debt by eight million.
Fuzzy Wuzzy.
Not angry Bob, just having fun poking holes
in inflated ego balloons. :-)

Grouch,
If you don't understand the difference between 'actual cash' money and 'paper' money, I'm afraid I can't help you un-fuzzy your mind.
Again, it took you 4 responses to reply to my last response. You really ... More ›

Grouch,
If you don't understand the difference between 'actual cash' money and 'paper' money, I'm afraid I can't help you un-fuzzy your mind.
Again, it took you 4 responses to reply to my last response. You really are angry, aren't you?

Mr Pritts......"The billionaire in New York
would have permitted the government to 'not'
spend his SS check amount thereby actually
helping to reduce the debt rather $8.0M paying
on the current rising debt with no ... More ›

Mr Pritts......"The billionaire in New York
would have permitted the government to 'not'
spend his SS check amount thereby actually
helping to reduce the debt rather $8.0M paying
on the current rising debt with no reduction
in spending."
Boy, is that fuzzy. The only minute difference
would be the saving of postage. Both amounts would
be applied toward the debt. Bob, there is only
one debt although it is held by both government
agencies and private interests. What were you
thinking ???????

Pritts.....There you go again. What is the world
does this response have to do with what we were
discussing. You sound like New Guy. As usual, you
are a bit negligent staying on point. To refresh
your memory, we were discussing ... More ›

Pritts.....There you go again. What is the world
does this response have to do with what we were
discussing. You sound like New Guy. As usual, you
are a bit negligent staying on point. To refresh
your memory, we were discussing not receiving
a SS check because one guy had no need for it. I merely
pointed out that provisions existed for citizens
to render a check to help reduce the debt. Do
you live on Tangent Road ? I think that I will
add Bloviating Bob to my pet name list for you.

Grouch,
I omitted your $8,000,000 number that was sent to the government in 2012 because it is insignificant. We spend $4.5B dollars a day! What percentage is that, let alone what percentage is that of $17.5T? Don't forget ... More ›

Grouch,
I omitted your $8,000,000 number that was sent to the government in 2012 because it is insignificant. We spend $4.5B dollars a day! What percentage is that, let alone what percentage is that of $17.5T? Don't forget that $8.0M goes against spending as usual. The billionaire in New York would have permitted the government to 'not' spend his SS check amount thereby actually helping to reduce the debt rather than the $8.0M merely paying on the current rising debt with no reduction in spending.
Again I ask you ... what are you so angry about? Do you really detest other peoples' views and ideas that bad?

Bob....I admire your self analysis. Who knows, I
may follow suit and list all the endearing
qualities that you attribute to this good old
country boy. BTW, I didn't out Ken, he performed
an admirable job of accomplishing ... More ›

Bob....I admire your self analysis. Who knows, I
may follow suit and list all the endearing
qualities that you attribute to this good old
country boy. BTW, I didn't out Ken, he performed
an admirable job of accomplishing that himself.
I did forget to point out his use of incest
laden abbreviations but I'll leave that to another
day.
BTW, I did notice that you failed to acknowledge
the mistake or omission about sending money to the government.
Wait a minute, I forgot that executive mind set
that admission of a mistake is a weakness. I guess
if you don't admit it, it's not a mistake. :-)

Well, Grouch, you came right through like a champ!
If I were you, I wouldn't waste any more time responding to a LIBERAL SUPPORTER HYPOCON, who is nothing more than an ARROGANT HYPOCRITE as well as a POMPOUS ASS. Not only ... More ›

Well, Grouch, you came right through like a champ!
If I were you, I wouldn't waste any more time responding to a LIBERAL SUPPORTER HYPOCON, who is nothing more than an ARROGANT HYPOCRITE as well as a POMPOUS ASS. Not only that but a person who has a CONDESCENDING ATTITUDE because he is PATHETIC, DELUSIONAL and IGNORANT. And those are the personal attacks on me on this blog alone!
Now, much to my surprise, you have 'outed' Ken Mills as a PROFANE MIDDLE SCHOOL BRAT who uses INFANTILE reasoning. Is there anyone in this world you like?
I've found that the only reason people resort to name calling is because they can produce no reasonable comment on a subject. It's their attempt to demean and therefore diminish the character of their opponent. What do you think, Grouch?

Ken.......That sounds like a middle school brat
response. I suspect you think that your insertion of profanity adds credibility and makes you sound almost
like a grown-up except that grown mature individuals
don't use that ... More ›

Ken.......That sounds like a middle school brat
response. I suspect you think that your insertion of profanity adds credibility and makes you sound almost
like a grown-up except that grown mature individuals
don't use that tactic. Your reasoning is also infantile.
First, you proclaim that this is public site then
advises on of the participants to shut up. Are
you starting to dip snuff like the big boys ? :-)

Bob Pritts....There you go again. I am slightly
puzzled why an educated man would attempt to
cloud the conversation by omission. While you
may not be able to refuse a Social Security
check, there is a provision that enables ... More ›

Bob Pritts....There you go again. I am slightly
puzzled why an educated man would attempt to
cloud the conversation by omission. While you
may not be able to refuse a Social Security
check, there is a provision that enables you to
send a personal check to be applied toward the
public national debt. In FY2012, citizens contributed
around 8 million for that cause. I realize that
people living in some rural locations might not
have the latest communication access, but you
have the tools to do basic research before publishing
your ignorance on a public site.
Government nanny or corporate nanny entities
furnish the same type of paternal benefits.
BTW, were you self employed or did someone else
build the firm that employed you ?
Well my cup of sarcasm is gone, so I will
get back to planting __________. Left blank
because I can't stand any more advise from a
Master Gardener. :-)

Grouch,
I wasn't bragging about my charitable donations. I was merely anwering your query as to whether I used my SS to give charitable constributions to other than just American christian kids. What else would you have ... More ›

Grouch,
I wasn't bragging about my charitable donations. I was merely anwering your query as to whether I used my SS to give charitable constributions to other than just American christian kids. What else would you have me do with my monthly SS checks? I can't tell the government I don't want it or need it.
A while back a billionnaire in New York called the SS administration and asked that they put his SS payments on the national debt. They told him no, he had to take it! He spent thousands upon thousand of dollars of his own money in lawyer fees and sued the government. He lost. Turns out it is in fact illegal for the government to hold anyones SS regardless of a persons financial circumstances. Look it up.
I'll be looking forward to your 3 or 4 sarcastic, name calling replies to this short response.

Mr Pritts.....Well, you have finally reached the
top of the delusional mountain. You donate
money confiscated from your fellow citizens
to your choice of charitable entities and then
publicize the good that you are doing. ... More ›

Mr Pritts.....Well, you have finally reached the
top of the delusional mountain. You donate
money confiscated from your fellow citizens
to your choice of charitable entities and then
publicize the good that you are doing. Just the
same way that government works. A man cannot be
contented until he realizes his true self.
Be careful of shattered mirrors. Is donating
OPM in your name really an honorable act ?
Brother, can you spare a dime ? :-)
Stop criticizing your socialistic government
role model.

Bob,
Taking the time to look up what the VP donated and
then bragging that you donated more certainly reflects
on your character and the reason for your giving. Like the Fruitcake lady said "God Almighty !!!!!" ... More ›

Bob,
Taking the time to look up what the VP donated and
then bragging that you donated more certainly reflects
on your character and the reason for your giving. Like the Fruitcake lady said "God Almighty !!!!!" That's funny and pathetic at the same time. Hey Bob, do you
look in the collection plate to see what others are
giving ?
Thank God that people of your slant on the repayment
of just debt did not prevail.

Mr Pritts....You are absolutely right that all my
income ( except the rental share) comes from the
taxpayers. That's one of the reasons that when
people use the VFW equivalent of have a nice day
and thank me for my service, ... More ›

Mr Pritts....You are absolutely right that all my
income ( except the rental share) comes from the
taxpayers. That's one of the reasons that when
people use the VFW equivalent of have a nice day
and thank me for my service, I always thank them
for paying taxes to fund my monthly government
receipts. My reference to preparing for my demise
was referring to my mental state of accepting the
fate of all humans. You are still pursuing false
assumptions about my happy life. I hope that your
wealth brings you a contented life. The happiest
man that I ever met was a black farmer who owned
40 acres with a creek flowing through the property.
When I asked him to fish in his creek, he granted
me permission provided that I picked berries for
him on his property. I am forever indebted to him
for that requirement. Of course, he always gave
me a few of the berries. Basically, I am a very
contended individual and my family thinks that
I have a wonderful sense of humor. I know nothing
of your life and would never suggest that you
are anything but what you say you are. BTW, I
contribute to Cal Farley's Ranch and Boys Town
every Christmas season. The thing that I dislike
most about you is your condescending attitude.
The very essence of a pompous ass.

Grouch,
So you're on the government dole all the way around ... living on OPM (Other Peoples Money.) All your (or the majority) of your retirement funds is derived from not for profit entities. Mine is derived from for ... More ›

Grouch,
So you're on the government dole all the way around ... living on OPM (Other Peoples Money.) All your (or the majority) of your retirement funds is derived from not for profit entities. Mine is derived from for profit entities (except for Social Security).
As for what I do with my social security checks, I do give most of the money to charities. I faithfully support Samaritan's Purse every month which helps people around the world, not just 'American Christians' as you so gently assumed. I donate heavily to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, and many others. As a matter of fact my last years donations were over 3 times as much as the Vice President of the United States who earns (pardon me, receives) $231,900 per year from us.
Have you ever heard of Cal Farleys Ranch for Boys and Girls or VAMOS in Mexico, plus others. I didn't think so.
Unlike you, I haven't wasted my lifetime preparing to take the next step. The next step of death was settled a long time ago between me and my maker. Until then, and it's coming, I will continue to optimistically forge forward and help others when and where I can. Call that whatever you want!

Ken.....Try the Daily Kos. My comments are
determined by the number of dumb hypocritical
statements that people post.
Bob.....I can live without Social Security. I
save it every month anyway. My income from
military retirement ... More ›

Ken.....Try the Daily Kos. My comments are
determined by the number of dumb hypocritical
statements that people post.
Bob.....I can live without Social Security. I
save it every month anyway. My income from
military retirement along with my rental income
is sufficient. Of course I don't have expensive
tastes and after making numerous moves in my
lifetime, I have no desire to travel. I derive
a lot of pleasure from observing Gods' handiwork
and enjoying the gift of good health that he
bestowed. I am surprised
that you are not donating your SS to help seniors
buy medication as you seem to want others to do.
Charity begins at home. I noticed that you are
still practicing the christian values of modesty
and being humble. Watch out for rotor cuff tears.
Don't hurt yourself by patting your back. With
all your riches, you might be interested to know
the State Dept. is wasting money by installing a
piece of art showing a camel looking at the eye
of a needle in Pakistan. Ponder that.

Grouch has been hogging the comment section and putting most of us to sleep for quite some time now. would love to go to a comment section once in a while and not find Grouch comments all the time. Grouch is like your Grandpa ... More ›

Grouch has been hogging the comment section and putting most of us to sleep for quite some time now. would love to go to a comment section once in a while and not find Grouch comments all the time. Grouch is like your Grandpa telling the same old tire, boring stories over and over and over.

Grouch,
I can't help it that you are dependent on social security and medicare. Maybe you shouldn't have spent your "life time preparing to take the next step". Perhaps if you had been more positive, you could ... More ›

Grouch,
I can't help it that you are dependent on social security and medicare. Maybe you shouldn't have spent your "life time preparing to take the next step". Perhaps if you had been more positive, you could have spent your life as an optimist, living with gusto, and not planning for your existence on earth to end. Then, maybe you would have invested in yourself to never rely on anyone else to take care of you until your final day. I don't need SS or Medicare but I'm stuck with it. The government won't let you refuse it or give it back.
BTW, an example. When I was 23 years old, a neighbor tried to sell me a life insurance policy. I politely turned him down. My reasoning was I would be paying an insurance company every month, year after year, just to hedge a bet. They were betting I was going to live and I would have been betting I was going to die before my children were raised, and I was betting they were right. The premiums I never paid them, kept in my own hands, has tripled over my lifetime and are part of my retirement. Who knew?

Persons receiving entitlements while bashing
socialism is like a whore extolling the
virtues of virginity. I guess it's just
my nature to grant pompous, arrogant
hypocrites no quarter. I have no hesitation
in admitting ... More ›

Persons receiving entitlements while bashing
socialism is like a whore extolling the
virtues of virginity. I guess it's just
my nature to grant pompous, arrogant
hypocrites no quarter. I have no hesitation
in admitting my dependence on the programs
of a democratic welfare state aka socialism
but I do draw the line at criticizing the
same in other persons. I do this for safety
reasons, I want to be able to see my face
in the mirror while shaving. Had any nicks
lately ? The trouble with conservatives is
that they can't stand the truth and constantly
badger those who are doing the same as they.
Bunch of parasites sucking the nation dry.

Grouch,
Why are you so negative and angry about any subject to which you respond? Is it because you, in your mind, are too old to contribute to any good? Are you jealous of others? Or are you just an agitator in general?

Ken and Bob.....Like a 80 year old man has
something important to do like build an ark.
Just more liberal "I'm so caring for my fellow citizens
that, that I don't mind using money from others
to care for them" ... More ›

Ken and Bob.....Like a 80 year old man has
something important to do like build an ark.
Just more liberal "I'm so caring for my fellow citizens
that, that I don't mind using money from others
to care for them" phony concern. I'm curious, does your humanity extend to world citizens or just to God's
children that live in America ? Why don't you two
join the phoney liberals on the Daily Kos ? They
need some hypocons for balance. :-)

Bob.....I have spent a lifetime preparing to
take the next step. I have known a few who opted
out of treatment and departed this life without
being hooked up to some damn machine. They did
so with peace of mind and thankful ... More ›

Bob.....I have spent a lifetime preparing to
take the next step. I have known a few who opted
out of treatment and departed this life without
being hooked up to some damn machine. They did
so with peace of mind and thankful for the
many years that they enjoyed. I am puzzled by
those who claim that health care is a right.
They seem to think that they have a right, at
others expense, for what never existed for their
forefathers. God bless the hospice workers.
Thanks for the warm fuzzy feeling. I had cooled
down a bit after my last session with the tiller.
Well, back to work, no rest for the wicked. :-)
BTW, what part of the constitution mandates the
confiscation of funds from others for transfer to
someone for payment of transplant medication ?
OOH, the injustice of inequality.....You make a
good advocate for the Obama and democrat campaign.

Bob, the guy deserves to die cause he had the sheer hutzpah to live that long. Everyone knows that humans can not be productive and add to society after they reach about 60 y/o. Obamacare is right to deny expensive coverage to ... More ›

Bob, the guy deserves to die cause he had the sheer hutzpah to live that long. Everyone knows that humans can not be productive and add to society after they reach about 60 y/o. Obamacare is right to deny expensive coverage to anyone after they have reached their potential and on the down side of the bell curve. The 82 y/o guy just didn't have respect for the system and for others that need the resources more than he did based on their potential future contribution to society . After all, there may be someoe out there that is 81 y/o and needs the drug. So, who should get it?....someone that is 81 or 82? Never mind that there are kids and grandkids that love Grandpa...the old geezer has to go....and Obamacare has conveniently figured that out and taken measures to correct mother nature's mistake that let someone live to be 82. Hopefully, Obamacare won't lower the ceiling for contribution to Society to something live 45 or 50. There would be a lot of 50 y/o people unhappy to be told that they are over the hill and someone else younger deserves the available funds for healthcare. The method of having a small committee (unelected) of beaurocrats deciding whether or not that 82 y/o man gets to live to be 83 is perfectly reasonable. Just think of all the freed up parking spaces that will be available.

Grouch,
You and I both know that I wasn't talking about terminally ill people where doctors have determined that there is absolutely nothing else that can be done. I was talking about elderly people who can return to productive, ... More ›

Grouch,
You and I both know that I wasn't talking about terminally ill people where doctors have determined that there is absolutely nothing else that can be done. I was talking about elderly people who can return to productive, full lives if they are not denied a certain operation or badly needed drug. One small example. An otherwise healthy 82 year-old man who started a profitable small business after retirement finds out he has terminal liver disease and unless he gets a liver transplant in the next six months he will die. He is fortunate and gets a transplant of a donated liver. The doctor tells him he must have a certain drug that will prevent his body from rejecting the new liver. He finds out that Medicare will not pay for it for folks over 80 years of age. He also finds out that he must take this drug for at least 9 months and his cost would be about $25,000 per month. There is no way he can do that. What would you say then if this were you? Just let me die and get ready to board the 'afterlife' train?

Bob Pritts.....Death panels have only switched,
from the supper table conversations about preserving
the estate versus useless treatment of grandpa, to
the board rooms. The amount of wealth spent trying
to prolong the suffering ... More ›

Bob Pritts.....Death panels have only switched,
from the supper table conversations about preserving
the estate versus useless treatment of grandpa, to
the board rooms. The amount of wealth spent trying
to prolong the suffering of a dear relative is obscene.
Dying is a part of life and when people stopped
playing God, the costs will start to go down. I
suggest that everyone google "How do Doctors die ?".
The ICU might well be the best profit center in
a hospital.
The sincere belief in the afterlife is challenged on a daily basis by those resisting boarding the departing
bus. :-)

Grouch,
When I mentioned Medicare in my response to Facts below, it was not about a war. It was trying to make Facts and others understand that the $500B in Medicare cuts in the ACA itself was sold as savings from fraudulent ... More ›

Grouch,
When I mentioned Medicare in my response to Facts below, it was not about a war. It was trying to make Facts and others understand that the $500B in Medicare cuts in the ACA itself was sold as savings from fraudulent claims being paid to doctors and hospitals. Not reductions or eliminations of drugs or medical procedures.
In essence it's this sad. The lefties railed against Paul Ryan throwing grandma over the cliff, when in fact they knew all along that cutting payments on certain pharmaceuticals and eliminating certain medical procedures from the Medicare program would accomplish the same thing in a shorter period of time ... eliminating many of the Medicare recipients from the program much sooner than otherwise would be the case. The monies from no longer paying for those elderly patients would then be made available to pay for the ACA.
I never thought I would ever say anything like the above about my country's government or citizens. This verifies the 'death panel' that Sarah Palin was pounded upon by the lefties. Read page 43 of the bill itself.

Facts, I have worked for the same company for the last 12 years. Every year my Medical Insurance monthly premium increased about $16 per month. Last year, my Med Ins premium was $320.24 per month. This year (effective Jan-14), ... More ›

Facts, I have worked for the same company for the last 12 years. Every year my Medical Insurance monthly premium increased about $16 per month. Last year, my Med Ins premium was $320.24 per month. This year (effective Jan-14), thanks to Obamacare, my monthly premium increased to $636.80 FOR THE EXACT SAME COVERAGE. No changes in my coverage, just the increase. Well, now I know what they meant (liberals) when they said…you have to pass it, to find out what’s in it – I found out in Jan what was in it – BIG INCREASE $$$$$ with same coverage. Yepppppppp.

Bob Pritts.....Obamacare vs Medicare. Yep, the
revolution has started but it appears to be
more of a socialist civil war. :-) I think
that I detect the distant sounds of grunts and
oinks with the faint refrains of greed in ... More ›

Bob Pritts.....Obamacare vs Medicare. Yep, the
revolution has started but it appears to be
more of a socialist civil war. :-) I think
that I detect the distant sounds of grunts and
oinks with the faint refrains of greed in the
background. And the bank played on.......

Facts only Please.....The biggest fallacy of the
ACA is that it helps poor people. With a family
out of pocket expenses capped at over $12,000.00,
it changes the status quo not even a bit. If a
child gets sick, and the family ... More ›

Facts only Please.....The biggest fallacy of the
ACA is that it helps poor people. With a family
out of pocket expenses capped at over $12,000.00,
it changes the status quo not even a bit. If a
child gets sick, and the family cannot afford to
pay, they will take that child to the emergency
room as they do now. In addition to changing nothing,
that family will be further damaged by having
to pay a monthly payment, however small, for coverage.
Even a dirt dumb dolt should realize this.
Even a family frugal enough to pay the out
of pocket expenses is faced with their children
being forced onto Medicaid with the possible result
of not being to access the same Doctor as their
parents. I know that all were born ignorant but
some manage to get past the warm fuzzy liberal
logic.

New Guy....Facts Only Please.....Where is the
congratulations to the WCN ? You guys have been
critical about the so called bias of this
publication, but when they published an article
from one of the top liberal spin machines, ... More ›

New Guy....Facts Only Please.....Where is the
congratulations to the WCN ? You guys have been
critical about the so called bias of this
publication, but when they published an article
from one of the top liberal spin machines, you
utter not one peep. Two peas in a hypocritical
liberal pod of self delusion.
Trains whistle.
Birds fly.
Snakes slither
and Democrats lie.
Barry Lied
and people died.

Truthfully, Grouch, I have come to expect very little from this administration, his appointed officials and news organizations. I watched them systematically try to destroy a good and honorable man like George Bush, make up ... More ›

Truthfully, Grouch, I have come to expect very little from this administration, his appointed officials and news organizations. I watched them systematically try to destroy a good and honorable man like George Bush, make up lies and destroy Sarah Palins reputation. Any organization that can do that to good people are capable of just about anything and certainly do not deserve my trust. I have watched the Obama Administration twart justice and refuse to cooperate wih Congress' overseeing committees by hiding information. If obama, the IRS, The Justice Department are not trying to cover up lies, deceits, injustices, law breaking then they would freely turn over quickly every bit of information requested by Congress. And, since they refuse to cooperate, I know they are guilty of the things suspected of them and probably much more.
So, no I do not expect very much from This president nor his Media Outlets.

Senior Citizen....All news organizations frequently
lie by omission to achieve a particular slant on
their viewpoint. Of course, I speaking about the talking
heads and not the hard news. This is common on
both sides of the ... More ›

Senior Citizen....All news organizations frequently
lie by omission to achieve a particular slant on
their viewpoint. Of course, I speaking about the talking
heads and not the hard news. This is common on
both sides of the political spectrum. In a foot
race between and American and a Russian which the
American won, the following versions were published.
American version.. American wins and Russia came
in last. Russian version....America came in next
to last and Russia captured the runner-up spot. :-)

Facts,
Ken is corect in his comments and concerns. Now for you.
Are you aware that the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), came out in January with their list of recommended cuts to Part D of the Medicare ... More ›

Facts,
Ken is corect in his comments and concerns. Now for you.
Are you aware that the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), came out in January with their list of recommended cuts to Part D of the Medicare prescription program? Some of the most outrageous cuts were cuts to what Medicare would pay for certain cancer drugs. In many of those cases, they would no longer pay one dime for some of them.
They also listed a set of prescriptions that involved no further payments for some antidepressant drugs. Also included was a list of drugs for which they would no longer pay that included certain drugs that reduce the risk of rejection of organs transplanted to save the life of America's seniors!
In March, Obama reversed this decision for the time being. Reason: As usual ... politics. A special election in Florida's 13th for a representative to Congress to replace a Congressman who had just passed away. Guess who lives in the 13th district. Tampa, St. Petersburg ... and a load of retired seniors. Much to the chagrin of the administration, the underdog Republican won! You can expect to see this 'drug cut' list return right after the Novermber elections.
So Facts, I guess you don't know as many facts as you thought you did. Have a nice evening anyway.

I don't think that those on Medicaid will contribute
any money to support the older sicker patients.
Those young persons who were allowed to remain on
their parent's policy will also be non contributing.
I believe that ... More ›

I don't think that those on Medicaid will contribute
any money to support the older sicker patients.
Those young persons who were allowed to remain on
their parent's policy will also be non contributing.
I believe that the percentage quoted on the healthy
young is far too low to prevent a rise in costs.

One comment and only one! Figures can be made to look anyway one wants them to. How is your pocketbook now?
Getting thinner or fatter. Enough said of this. This has decimated this country and will continue to do so until ... More ›

One comment and only one! Figures can be made to look anyway one wants them to. How is your pocketbook now?
Getting thinner or fatter. Enough said of this. This has decimated this country and will continue to do so until the mandate is repealed! Of course, it appears that the younger generation is one that is looking for someone to take care of them because 'THEY DESERVE IT'
Have a great day!

'Facts only' the only thing about having that terminal Cancer is that they have not included some of the better Cancer Centers like M D Anderson. And, a lot of the information that I receive are from interviews with Government ... More ›

'Facts only' the only thing about having that terminal Cancer is that they have not included some of the better Cancer Centers like M D Anderson. And, a lot of the information that I receive are from interviews with Government Officials and people like that that contradict most of the information in this report. And, yes i knew that the lifetime cap had been lifted (heard that on Fox News)

I wonder where the information comes from in this report....it does not match anything that I have read....Me thinks the writer is lying their GDMF head off and is a far left leaning, progressive, socialist/communist/marxist ... More ›

I wonder where the information comes from in this report....it does not match anything that I have read....Me thinks the writer is lying their GDMF head off and is a far left leaning, progressive, socialist/communist/marxist liberal after Obama's mold. Last I heard (2 days ago) it is estimated that about 6M people have signed up and only about 300000 of those are NEW enrollees...everyone else are folks that have had their insurance canceled by Obamacare edicts and are just trying to get back on insurance. and, of the 6M that have signed up for Obamacare, the Administration can not tell us have many have ACTUALLY paid for their insurance premium...all you have to do to be counted by this administration as a new healthcare participant is to fill out the form and don't even have to pay for it. I dare say that all the information in this report is a lie, half lie or super exaggeration.